I'm a fan of Vincenzo Natali's cult classic "Cube". It partly inspired "Saw" and is quite an achievement in the genre of sci-fi horror. So, when I saw that Warner Bros. was releasing his latest film, I got pretty excited. After all, Natali is a visionary horror director and Warner Bros. is the most successful Hollywood studio (aside from Disney). However, "Splice" is an independent feature that was not funded by the studio, but WB did release it. My final assessment? The movie is another gem destined to become a cult film.

Of course, the movie is an entirely different beast from "Cube". Yes, it does fall under the sci-fi horror label, but "Splice" isn't a suspense/survival tale. It's more in the tradition of genre master David Cronenberg's early work (The Fly, The Brood, Videodrome). A modern day Frankenstein, "Splice" tells the story of two young scientists in love who want to create a new way to fight diseases. They experiment with DNA and are able to generate a new lifeform made from several types. The result is a hybrid creature that looks alien-like in infant form, but which resembles a human female as it matures.

Adrian Brody and Sarah Polley play the scientists who play God. They eventually realize they're in over their heads and pay the price in more ways than one. Speaking of which, there is a scene that will have you either laughing or screaming. It's extremely silly, but...well, you'll see. I'll just say that Brody had some eggs to perform the scene. The movie is visually intriguing and quite haunting. The 1980's-like musical score will be a treat for fans of low-budget horror films of that era. "Dren", the alien-like creature of "Splice", is a quite a horror movie creation. Iconic even. Don't be surprise if "Splice" is talked about in horror critic circles (in a positive way) in the years to come. The movie isn't for every one (it maybe uncomfortable to watch, for some), but it's a good genre film.